Boot tree

ABSTRACT

A boot tree having an inflatable member shaped, when inflated, to conform to the inside of a boot and arched member extending longitudinally of and beneath the inflatable member for transmitting pressure of the inflatable member to the heel and toe of the sole of the boot.

United States Patent [1 1 Szabo BOOT TREE [76] Inventor: Louis Szabo, 2009 Trutch Street,

Vancouver, British Columbia,

Canada [22] Filed: Apr. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 246,395

[52] US. Cl. ..l2/114.4 [51] Int. Cl. ..A43d 5/00 [58] Field of Search 12/1 14.4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,538,247 l ll95l Holt ..12/l 144 3,483,580 l2/l960 Cherry et al ..l2/l 14.4

[451 May 1, 1973 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Att0rneyBrian J. Wood [5 7] ABSTRACT A boot tree having an inflatable member shaped, when inflated, to conform to the inside of a boot and arched member extending longitudinally of and beneath the inflatable member for transmitting pressure of the inflatable member to the heel and toe of the sole of the boot.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented May 1, 1973 3,729,759

BOOT TREE 1. Field of the invention This invention relates to boot trees.

2. Prior Art For storing expensive shoes and boots for an extended period merchants usually find it necessary to use boot trees to maintain the boots in proper shape. Boot trees for high top boots such as riding boots are relatively expensive being sometimes half the price of the boot. It is therefore, usual practice of stuff the boots with paper or other material. This has not been entirely satisfactory as it is virtually impossible to obtain a uniform amount of pressure in the boot, and in dry atmosphere where boots tend to dry out quickly shrinkage of leather at the instep tends to make the boot soles curl upwards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a boot tree which is relatively inexpensive and which can easily and quickly be placed inside a boot to maintain the boot upper in proper shape substantially free of wrinkles and which exerts a downward pressure against the sole of the boot near the toe to reduce a tendency of the toe of the boot to curl upwards as the boot dries.

The boot tree of the present invention includes an inflatable boot shaped member adapted, when inflated, to contact the inner surface of the boot and a springy arched member extending longitudinally of and beneath the inflatable member having a length adequate to extend substantially the length of the boot from the heel to the toe thereof so as to support the inflatable member clear of the boot arch so that pressure exerted on the arch member by the inflatable member is transmitted to the boot sole only at the heel and the toe.

A detailed description following related to drawings gives exemplification of preferred embodiment of the invention which, however, is capable of expression in structure other than that particularly described and illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned side view of one embodiment of a boot tree of the present invention shown in place inside of a boot, the boot being shown in broken outline,

FIG. 2 is a side view ofa foot portion of one embodiment of the boot tree in a deflated condition,

FIG. 3 is a section on 3-3 ofFIG.1,

FIG. 4 is a view of an underside of the boot tree in an inflated condition,

FIG. 5 is a view of a foot portion of another embodiment ofa boot tree in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION having a sole 14 extending between a toe l5 and a heel 16. Y

The boot tree includes an inflatable member 18 which is made of similar boot shaped pieces of elastic sheet material, for example, a suitable polyethylene, which are peripherally welded together in a known manner. The sheet material is cut to provide an upper apertured tab 19. The inflatable member also has a filler the 20 closed by a removable plug 21.

The inflatable member, (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4) has a 0 foot portion 23 having on an under surface 24 thereof a pair of longitudinally spaced cup members 25 and 26 which open towards each other. The cup member 25 is located adjacent a toe of the inflatable member and the cup member 26 is located adjacent the heel thereof.

Referring to FIG. 2 the cup members 25 and 26 are formed by welding the two sheets of material together along a line 27 extending substantially from the toe to the heel and spaced inwards of a peripheral edge,

broken outline 28. A central portion 32 of the sheet material between the weld line 27 and the line 28 is then cut away to leave the cup members 25 and 26.

The cup members 25 and 26, FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, accept opposite ends 35 and 36 of a springy arched member 37. The arched member can be a strip of wood or suitable thermoplastic and is bowed to an extent to clear the boot arch so as to engage the sole of the boot only at the ends 35 and 36. The arch member is about an inch to an inch and a half in width and its ends 35 and 36 are squared so that it tends to remain in an arched upright position within the boot.

The boot tree is inserted in the boot in the deflated condition and the arched member is positioned centrally of the boot so that the ends 35 and 36 are at the toe and heel of the latter. The inflatable member is then inflated until the boot is firm pressure of the inflated member results in reverse bowing of the arched member, broken outline position 37.1.

It is evident that pressure of the inflatable member against the arched member is transmitted to the boot sole through the ends of the arched member only. Pressure downwards at the boot toe thus counteracts tendency of the toe to curl upward a common occurrance when wet leather boots are dried.

FIG. 5 shows a portion of another embodiment 40 of is substantially the same as the inflatable member 18 being formed of a pair of two similar pieces of elastic sheet material differing only in that the boot portion 42 thereof is cut and welded to provide a pair of depending fingers 43 and 44 located adjacent the toe and the heel of the foot portion. The fingers are pushed inwards into the interior of the foot portion to form cup members 43.1 and 44.], broken outline, to accept ends of an arched member, not shown, which is similar to the arched member 37 of the embodiment 10.

The boot tree 40 is fitted to the boot, and operates in a manner as described with reference to the boot tree 10.

I claim: 1. A boot tree including: a. an inflatable boot shaped member adapted to fit inside a boot, and I b. an arched member adapted to fit inside a boot and extending longitudinally thereof from the toe to the heel of the boot beneath the inflatable member so that when the inflatable member is inflated pressure downwards against the arched member is transmitted to the boot sole at the heel and toe thereof.

2. A boot tree as claimed in claim 1 including cup members at the heel and toe of the inflatable member for receiving ends of the arched member.

3. A boot tree as claimed in claim 1 in which the inflatable member is made of an elastic material so as to conform, when inflated, to the inside of the boot.

4. A boot tree as claimed in claim 1 in which the arched member has transversely extending ends engagable with the sole of the boot so that the arched member tends to maintain an upright position within the boot when the inflatable member is inflated.

5. A boot tree as claimed in claim 1 in which the arched member is springy so as to deflect under pressure of the inflated member.

6. A boot treeas claimed in claim 2 in which the arched member is springy so as to deflect under pressure of the inflated member.

7. A boot tree as claimed in claim 3 in which the arched member is springy so as to deflect under pressure of the inflated member. 

1. A boot tree including: a. an inflatable boot shaped member adapted to fit inside a boot, and b. an arched member adapted to fit inside a boot and extending longitudinally thereof from the toe to the heel of the boot beneath the inflatable member so that when the inflatable member is inflated pressure downwards against the arched member is transmitted to the boot sole at the heel and toe thereof.
 2. A boot tree as claimed in claim 1 including cup members at the heel and toe of the inflatable member for receiving ends of the arched member.
 3. A boot tree as claimed in claim 1 in which the inflatable member is made of an elastic material so as to conform, when inflated, to the inside of the boot.
 4. A boot tree as claimed in claim 1 in which the arched member has transversely extending ends engagable with the sole of the boot so that the arched member tends to maintain an upright position within the boot when the inflatable member is inflated.
 5. A boot tree as claimed in claim 1 in which the arched member is springy so as to deflect under pressure of the inflated member.
 6. A boot tree as claimed in claim 2 in which the arched member is springy so as to deflect under pressure of the inflated member.
 7. A boot tree as claimed in claim 3 in which the arched member is springy so as to deflect under pressure of the inflated member. 